Magic of basalt stone
By Graham Faulkner
Photos by Yao Fan



占地400多平方米的大型美容会所--丽人田园美容生活馆拥有美容, 瑜珈, 美甲等全套服务, 但最大的特色则是该馆特有的能源石香熏. 能源石来源于欧洲, 可舒缓紧张的肌体, 放松疲惫的身心. 这让来自英国的Graham着实体验到了能源石香熏的神奇.

What is aromatherapy and what exactly does it do? Is it something that both men and women can enjoy? Thanks to an introduction to aromatherapy by the friendly staff at Beauty Garden Salon, I learned that there is indeed a lot more to aromatherapy than I had originally thought. According to experts, the oils extracted from certain plants and trees are able to reduce stress in the body, reduce toxins, speed up recovery from injury, relieve mental stress -and most importantly, they can make you more beautiful.

My first step into the world of aromatherapy consisted of a massage and a facial at Beauty Garden Salon.



The massage was certainly unlike any other massage I have ever had before. Firstly, I was shown into my own little room equipped with a decent heater, which considering the time of year and the fact that you have to be topless to enjoy the massage, is a necessity. The first half of the massage involved the application of numerous fragment oils onto the back, neck and shoulders. Yes, I can finally say that I have been oiled up by a beautiful lady! The second and most interesting part was the use of basalt stones that had been heated up in oil to massage the back. This was extremely relaxing. The stones were not too hot and there was no discomfort. My masseuse explained that this technique originated in Europe and is extremely effective in reviving tired muscles and tendons.

After the massage I had a facial, which consisted of further application of the oils and removal of blackheads (this does hurt a little). I don't think that there are many men out there who have ever experienced a facial, but I do feel proud to be among the few that have.



Beauty Garden Salon
丽人田园美容生活馆
Address: 19-20 Jinrui Garden, 875, Xiahe Road, Xiamen
地址: 厦门市厦禾路875号金瑞园19-20店面(大地幼儿园旁)
电话: 5804266 5804366

Vocabulary
aromatherapy 香熏
extract 榨取
toxin 毒素
basalt 玄武岩
masseuse 女按摩师
tendon 肌腱

为了庆祝即将到来的新春佳节, 感谢与双语周刊一起走过2005年的读者与会员, 双语周刊英语俱乐部特推出优惠入会价 300元(不赠送双语周刊).
优惠价报名截止日期: 2006年1月25日.
价值360元的年卡
可享受1150元的超值服务
有意者请速速报名
Hotline: 5581650

Common Talk Club 2005

Jan.-Mar.

Jan. 8 Movie: The Prince & Me 《麻雀变王妃》 20元 Jan. 14 Lecture: Mainstream sculpture (中英双语文化讲座: 漆线雕) 20元
Jan. 22 Movie: Resident Evil: Apocalypse 《生化危机2》 20元
Jan. 28 Topic: Marriage and life after 20元
Feb. 5 Movie: Garfield 《加菲猫》 20元
Feb. 19 Topic: How to spend your Spring Festival? 20元
Feb. 26 Movie: Incredibles 《超级总动员》 20元
Mar. 4 Topic: Studying abroad 20元
Mar. 12 Movie: Shall We Dance? 《谈谈情, 跳跳舞》 20元
Mar. 18 Lecture: Yoga (瑜珈) (都市风健身俱乐部) 20元
Mar. 26 Movie: Fifty First Dates 《五十次初恋》 20元
(本年度俱乐部活动累计价值1150元)
Special thanks to Jessie

April-June

Apr. 1 Lecture: Western music (西方音乐) Venezzia grill (维尼西亚西餐厅) 30元
Apr. 9 Movie: Wimbledon 《网住爱情》 20元
Apr. 15 Topic: Dating 20元 Apr. 23 Movie: Cellular 《玩命手机》 20元
Apr. 29 Topic: Film and real life 20元
May 7 Movie: Shark Tale 《鲨鱼故事》 20元
May 13 Topic: Travelling around 20元
May 21 Movie: Ocean's Twelve 《12 罗汉》 20元
May 27 Topic: Second-hand smoking & tobacco advertising 20元
June 4 Movie: Son of the Mask 《变相怪杰》 20元
June 10 Lecture: Some views on Contemporary European Art (西方艺术系列讲座) 30元
June 18 Movie: Hitch 《全民情敌》 20元
June 24 Lecture: Childhood in Canada and China (中加儿童教育对比) 20元

July-Sep.

July 2 Movie: Vertical Limit II 《垂直极限II》 20元
July 8 Topic: Lies 20元
July 16 Movie: Saints and Soldiers 《冰雪勇士》 20元
July 22 Topic: Shall we take kids away from internet games? 20元
July 30 Movie: Without a Paddle 《寻宝假期》 20元
Aug. 5 The Meteorological Station, Foxtail Mountain参观天文气象科普馆及英语沙龙 30元
Aug. 13 Movie: A Cinderella Story 《灰姑娘的故事》 20元
Aug. 20 Lecture: Table Manners 讲座: 西餐礼仪 50元
Aug. 27 Movie: Mean Girl 《坏女孩》20元
Sep. 2 Topic: How do you spend your spare time? 20元
Sep. 10 Movie: Jonny English 《憨豆特派员》 20元
Sep 16 Topic: Old Friends 20元
Sep. 24 Movie: Deep Blue Sea 《水深火热》20元
Sep. 30 Topic: Coffee VS Tea 20元

Oct.-Dec.

Oct. 8 Movie: Elektra 《艾丽卡》20元 Oct. 14 Topic: Job interviews in English 20元
Oct. 22 Movie: Saw 《电锯惊魂》 20元
Oct. 28 Topic: A season of ghosts - Halloween 20元
Nov. 5 Xiamen International Cactus and Succulent Exhibition(厦门国际仙人掌与多肉植物展览会) 40元
Nov. 11 Topic: Sickness and health 20元 Nov. 20 Enjoy Xiamen's scenery and the Island Ring Road 乘观光巴士, 赏鹭岛美景 20元
Nov. 25 Film "Phone Booth" and English discussion 《狙击电话亭》 20元
Dec. 2 Topic: Drinking culture 20元 Dec. 11 Concert for the 100th issue of CT 双语周刊创刊百期庆典专场音乐会 20元
Dec. 16 Topic: What'll make Common Talk better? 20元
Dec. 23 Movie: EDTV, English discussion 《爱迪电视秀》 20元
Dec. 30 Lecture: Marriage and relationships 20元